‘Tis the season for Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train. Come with family and friends and take this enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train will depart from the brightly-lit train station and drop passengers off at the North Pole. Children can share their wish list with Santa and have their photo taken with him too. You may take pictures with your personal camera or you may purchase a photo taken by Irvine Park Railroad.

After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to Santa’s Village.

WISH LIST FOR SANTA
Children can print and fill out a wish list to share with Santa Claus!

CHRISTMAS TRAIN TICKETS

$15.00 per person
24 months and younger ride free

Tickets for this event must be purchased online and in advance. There is a one-time, online ticket fee that will apply to each order.

Important Note: Regular train tickets, tokens, complimentary tickets, discount tickets, and/or coupons are not valid for the Christmas Train. All customers must ride the train to visit Santa Claus.

PHOTO WITH SANTA

$10.00 per photo – $6.00 for each additional print of the same photo

Irvine Park Railroad will take a picture of your children with Santa Claus. Each 5″ x 7″ photo will be available for pickup shortly after it is taken.

Please note: You may take pictures with your personal camera at no cost. All customers must ride the train to visit Santa Claus. Tickets for the 2018 Christmas Train are SOLD OUT.

Christmas Train Activity Tickets

$6 Per Ticket - or - $75 Book of 15 Tickets ($15 Savings)

Moon Bounce

1 Ticket Per Person

10 minutes of jump time

Cookie Decorating

1 Ticket Per Person

Ice Fishing

1 Ticket Per Person

Every child wins a prize

Carnival Games

1 Ticket Per Person

2 Games - Every child wins a prize

Rudolph Racers

1 Ticket Per Person

Ages 5-7

Blizzard Ball

1 Ticket Small Prize
2 Tickets Large Prize

Every child wins a prize

Santa’s Village is free to enter and located at the train station. Please note that if you were unable to purchase tickets to ride the Christmas Train, you are still able to come out and enjoy these fun holiday activities.

We also offer Free Activities

inside of Santa's Village

Story Time with Mrs. Claus

Families will love listening to stories and singing songs with Mrs. Claus. When not reading, she will be roaming Santa's Village to take photos.

Coloring Corner

Children can sit down at one of the coloring corner tables and color a Christmas coloring page that can be taken home and displayed for all to see.

Picture Stands

Create lasting memories by taking photos in the festive holiday picture stands. Children and adults can pose together in a picture stand too!

Christmas Train FAQs

Christmas Train tickets must be purchased in advance of riding the Christmas Train and can be purchased online only beginning November 1st. When tickets sell out for a specific date and time, there will be no additional tickets for sale (for that date and time).

On the night that you will be riding the Christmas Train, you will get in line and board the train at any time during the hour for which you have tickets. The train will drop you off at the North Pole; you will get in line to meet and have your photo taken with Santa Claus.

Once you’ve captured that special moment, hop back aboard the train and head back to Santa’s Village (the train station). At Santa’s Village, you can participate in many Christmas Train activities. Tickets for activities can purchased in person at the train station ticket window or at the yellow house. Tickets for Santa’s Village activities do not sell out.

Christmas Train tickets go on sale November 1st and can be purchased online only. Tickets cannot be purchased in person or over the phone. Once tickets are sold out, tickets will not be available for that specific date or time.

This year tickets will be emailed directly to you with your order confirmation. Tickets must be presented to board the train. You have the option to print the tickets or show them on your mobile device. If you purchased the tickets as part of a group, and you will arrive at the park at different times, we recommend that you print the tickets and give them to the members of your group prior to arriving at the park. Once you arrive at the park, you can either go into Santa’s Village and enjoy the activities or get in line for the Christmas Train if it is your time to board. We recommend visiting the Village first if your tickets for the Christmas Train are for 7:00 pm or later.

Once in line, you will board one of the several trains that leaves within your hour. The train will drop you off at the North Pole where you can get in line to meet and have your picture taken with Santa Claus. You are welcome to use your own camera at no additional cost or purchase a photo from Irvine Park Railroad staff. After you have visited with Santa, you will get back in line to board the train to Santa’s Village.

The train will pull into the train station and unload you back into Santa’s Village. Enjoy all the activities that can be found in this area. Please remember to dress warm as it gets chilly at night.

Yes. The Christmas Train will sell out. Once tickets are sold out, you will be unable to purchase tickets to ride the Christmas Train. You will, however, be able to enjoy the activities in Santa’s Village. Tickets are not required to walk around this area. Tickets must be purchased to enjoy most activities in Santa’s Village.

Yes. You must ride the Christmas Train to meet Santa Claus. Visitors that walk and/or drive up to meet Santa will be turned away. Tickets must be purchased in advance and online to ride the Christmas Train to visit with Santa.

During past holiday seasons, visitors expressed their desire to purchase Christmas Train tickets online to guarantee that they would be able to ride the train on a specific date and at a specific time without having to wait in an excessive line. We listened and visitors can purchase tickets online. The one-time $7.50 online ticket fee (per order) is to cover the cost to sell tickets online. This fee has never increased.

A certain number of tickets are sold for each hour (ex. 5:00 – 6:00, 6:00 – 7:00). You are able to get in line and board the train any time during that hour. The train departs several times during that hour and you are guaranteed to board the train any time within that hour. Please note that due to circumstances beyond our control, you may board the train just past the hour for which you purchased tickets.

No. Tickets for the Christmas Train are different tickets and must be purchased online and in advance of when you would like to visit. Regular train tickets, discounts, coupons, and special promotions are not valid for Christmas Train tickets.

The Christmas Train runs rain or shine. Irvine Park Railroad does our very best to make sure most areas are covered from inclement weather. We recommend bringing umbrellas or rain jackets as the train is not fully enclosed.

Should the Christmas Train close for any unforeseen reason, you will be contacted by email on the day that you are scheduled to ride the Christmas Train.

For private parties, consider reserving a Party Pavilion located adjacent to the train station and Christmas Train area. Additionally, other locations inside of the park are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Picnic benches around the train station are reserved for visitors who purchase food from the snack bar.

Yes. There is a full-service snack bar located at the train station that serves both hot and cold food. There is a snack shack at the North Pole that offers treats and warm drinks available for purchase.

Orange County Zoo

Visit the Orange County Zoo that over 100 animals native to Southern California call home. There is a petting zoo, too, an ideal activity for young children. The zoo is a 5-minute walk from Santa's Village.

Refund Policy: Irvine Park Railroad does not offer exchanges or refunds for Christmas Train tickets purchased. If the Christmas Train closes due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be notified by email on the date of the event. Additionally, there will be a message on our web site as well as on our Facebook page. The Christmas Train runs rain or shine.

All prices and information are subject to change without notice.

If you plan on riding the Christmas Train with family and friends, we strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets via one transaction. There is a maximum of 50 tickets per order. If you purchased the tickets as part of a group, and you will arrive at the park at different times, we recommend that you print the tickets and give them to the members of your group prior to arriving at the park.